Dear Editor:
I have recently overheard some misconceptions regarding the School Bond Issue and I would appreciate the opportunity to "clear the muddied waters."
First, the bond issue is a 20-year bond, therefore, it must be paid for in 20 years, not the preposterous 50 years that I have overheard.
Second, the construction that occurred in the late 1980s is a 20-year-old band-aid that was used to come to par by creating an elementary library, a real cafeteria, and a few classrooms.
Third, there are many more computers in the school now and they give off an unbelievable amount of heat. Since it is not realistic to remove computers from academia, we must choose to either purchase new computers more frequently, or we can install air conditioning which will create an environment in which the computers will last longer, the teachers will be better able to teach, and most importantly, the students will be better able to learn. The latter option is the better choice. We must graduate students who know what they need to know when they go to the work force, trade school, college, or the military.
Fourth, the projects associated with the bond issue are necessary for Montezuma to compete not only academically, but also as a community. Business owners and leaders that are looking to move to an area realize that they must have an academically-strong, community-supported school system or they cannot draw in the best employees to work at their companies.
Fifth, we can insure ourselves against a forced consolidation situation on a couple of points:
- We will have a facility in which parents would be less likely to open-enroll their children to neighboring school districts because it will be completely ADA compliant, aesthetically pleasing, physically safe and environmentally conducive to learning. Therefore, we will sustain (hopefully increase) pupil population.
- The community will support the school and its needs because we will have a facility in which we can be proud. As I walk through the halls, classrooms and behind-the-scenes areas now, I am reminded of the Broken Window Theory - that is that broken windows, weed-infested sidewalks, broken floor tiles, stained ceiling tiles, tired doors and jambs, an antique heating system and no air conditioning leads people and students to become apathetic. Apathy has never been a characteristic with which Montezuma has been associated with an it does not need to start now!
Sixth, property values will increase when we remodel and update the facility because the community and prospective community members will determine that the facility is very conducive to learning, that the students will be given every opportunity to be fully prepared for their future endeavors, thus creating demand for housing within the district.
Vote "Yes" to invest int he Montezuma Community School District and the community.
Respectfully,
Aaron McCaslen
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